28 August 2013

Leave it up to Fate: Chapter 29

Chapter 29

“I was thinking of importing cherry blossom
branches for the church…”

“It’s
not really the season for sakura, Mama.” I reasoned over the phone. As usual,
she had called to discuss wedding arrangements. For the past 2 weeks, I had
approved color swatches, looked over menu and song lists, and been measured at
least once.

“Hm,
you’re right.” My mom mused. “I was thinking of using them to decorate the pews
so we’d have something like a canopy as you walk down the aisle. You know, like
what Juday had for her wedding.”

I
rolled my eyes, I had no idea what Juday did for her wedding.

“Can
you see if you can get some at Tokyu Hands?” She asked. “They’ve lovely
artificial ones there.”

“Fine,
Mama. I’ll email you as soon as I’ve gone.” With my mom, it was easier to just
keep on agreeing.

“So
how is Ken doing?”

“He’s
busy finishing up several filming commitments to clear his schedule.” I told
her. Ken was in Nara shooting a period film. I hadn’t seen much of him since
our engagement party, but he called every day. He was due back today and I
hoped to have a little talk with him later this weekend.

She
sighed. “I’m really am happy that you’re getting married Ana. Your Dad and I
have always worried about you. We’re really glad that you now have Ken to take
care of you.”

I
bit back the retort that I was able to take care of myself and fidgeted
guiltily. It was a good thing Mama couldn’t see me. “I thought that Dad was
still against everything.” I commented. Daddy hadn’t said five words to me
since I had dropped the bombshell on them.

“Oh
he was, up until your engagement party in fact. But Ken paid him a visit after
and they had nice talk and sorted it all out.”

“Ken
did what?” I choked.

“Oh,
I forgot, he did say not to tell you. You worry overmuch about the littlest
things dear. Now forget I said anything and instead, why don’t you think about
the centerpiece choices I sent you. I still like the ikebana one with mirrors…”

I
let my mind wander as Mom continued to prattle on. I couldn’t imagine Ken with
my dad without the latter erupting into violence or at least a show of
hysterics. And now Daddy was actually resigned to our marriage? What the hell
had Ken told my father?!

After
Mom had rung off a few minutes later, I strayed over to the kitchen to see what
Kaye was doing. In a fit of domesticity, she was actually baking cookies.

“Hoy
Ana, you’ve been staring into space for at least 10 minutes now. What’s up?”
Kaye asked after a while.

I
don’t know why I suddenly felt like venting; but suddenly, the words gushed
forth like a hemorrhage. I told Kaye everything—from what the Ai and Takashi
had told me 2 weeks ago, to what my mom had said about Ken and my dad.

“So
let me know if I got this right,” Kaye said when I finished my recital. “You’re
feeling guilty because you’re deceiving your parents and marrying a guy who you
don’t think loves you because he’s still hooked on a girl you inadvertently
made him break up with. You’re also scared that you’re ruining your life and
you’re terrified to death of admitting your feelings. Have I got everything?”

“In
a nutshell.” I confirmed. “Oh Kaye, what should I do?”

“How
should I know?” Kaye went back to decorating her cookies. “But I do know if I
were you I’d go and see Ken and hash this all out before we got married.” She
looked directly at me. “The sooner, the better. Then you’ll know what to do.”
When she saw my hesitation, she said more gently, “This isn’t a shotgun wedding
Ana. No one’s forcing you to do anything. But you’re an adult and you’ve evaded
the issues long enough. You owe it to yourself to find out the truth.” Kaye
sighed. “Ana, you asked for someone to love. Fate has handed you that someone.
You ask for water and God gives you rain—do you ask for a glass too? ”

I
smiled. “Kaye, when did you become so wise?”

She
shrugged and turned back to her cookies. “I don’t know; I was probably born
this way.”

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About Me

C. P. Santi is a Filipina writer based in Tokyo, Japan. She is a wife to an engineer / musician / jokester and a full-time mom to two energetic boys. She loves cooking and feeding people, gorging on chocolate, watching J-doramas, belting it out in the karaoke box, and running around the house playing tickle tag. She also loves dreaming up stories about the people she meets.
In another life, she is also an architect and academic.